Method for feeding a number of strips of material into a single- or multiple-extruder system

Abstract

A method and a device are disclosed for feeding a number of strips of material of one constituent from different batches thereof, into each extruder of a single- or multiple-extruder system in order to ensure that the extruder product from each extruder is more consistently uniform. To achieve this, such a system is fed from one end from pallets deposited on conveyor belts so that a plurality of strips of material from different batches, but of the same mixture, are fed into each appropriate extruder hopper. The empty pallets are removed from the pallet system by a conveyor belt passing along the charging end.

I claim: 
     
       1. A method of feeding a plurality of strips of a constituent material into each extruder of a multiple extruder system utilized for producing profiles from rubber or thermoplastics material, each of said plurality of strips being supplied from different batches of such constituent material, with each of said batches potentially having different characteristics from another batch or batches of the same constituent material, each extruder having a material inlet and, in use, extruding one constituent of the profile, comprising the steps of: (a) disposing a plurality of batches of the constituent to be fed into each extruder on a plurality of pallet means, each batch being in the form of a strip of material;   (b) conveying the laden pallets on pallet conveyor means, each extruder having associated with it a separate pallet conveyor means, said pallets for each extruder being conveyed in series in a direction towards said material inlet of each extruder, said pallet conveyor means having a first end adjacent said material inlet and a second end remote from said material inlet;   (c) simultaneously feeding at least two strips of material from separate pallets into strip guide means and thence into each extruder, said simultaneous feeding providing a more uniform and consistent constituent when fed into said extruder, said guide means being disposed above said pallet conveyor;   (d) removing empty pallets from said pallet conveyor means at said first end and in a direction transverse to the direction of feed of the pallets toward the material inlet of each extruder; and   (e) replacing said empty pallets by depositing new laden pallets on said pallet conveyor means at said second end thereof, each said extruder being charged from one side.   
     
     
       2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said system comprises three extruders, each extruder extruding a separate constituent, and wherein four material strips of each constituent are fed to each associated extruder through said guide means from four different batches of said constituent. 
     
     
       3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein two pallet conveyor means are provided for each extruder with four pallets being disposed on each said pallet conveyor means, whereby each extruder is simultaneously fed with four strips of material, two strips being fed from each set of four pallets.